Tag Archives: democracy

MNA National Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government is working relentlessly for further strengthening democracy and speeding up development in the country as Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland QC paid a courtesy call on her. “We’re working tirelessly for further consolidating democracy and accelerating development in the country,” Premier’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim quoted her as saying while briefing reporters after the meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka. In this connection, the Commonwealth Secretary General said her organisation is ready to extend cooperation with Bangladesh in upholding its democratic process. Sheikh Hasina said over 6,000 ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Democracy is one of the most practiced government system around the world and it projects sheer beauty if embedded with sacrifice and accountability. It asks for the leaders to take responsibility of their words or works and complete dedication towards the welfare of the people. Democracy calls for participation of the people in forming a government of their choice as well as entitles them for answers. In spite of worldwide adoption of democratic concept, democracy is flawed or not in full practice in most countries including the initiators of democracy. Hence now extent of democratic practice becomes ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Leadership is made up of many qualities such as dedication, sacrifice and effort. Instead of pursuing a life of luxury a good leader always crave for welfare of the people, society and country. These become more important when a leader works in democratic environment. He or she should lead by examples to drive his or her followers in working for cumulative benefits. Throughout the world, no leader could achieve any goal without making sacrifices. The roads for them are not strewn with flowers but full of thorns. But they endure the pains and suffering focusing on certain ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Politics in Bangladesh is trudging though a tough course especially ahead of the coming parliamentary election due to be held in December this year or in early 2019 as provided by the constitution, to mark the end of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s second consecutive five-year term in power. The incumbent PM has already completed four years in her second term and is vying for a third five-year tenure through the polls so her government can finish many unfinished development and infrastructural project to suit the requirements of a middle income country Bangladesh aspires to achieve by 2021. ...

MNA National Desk: A free, fair and credible election in a democracy requires an electoral system creating level playing field for all political parties while promoting people’s participation in the polls. Bangladesh since its independence has gone through several changes in its electoral systems as it started as a parliamentary form of government, then switched over to presidential system and again shifted back to parliamentary system in 1991. After independence, there have been 10 national elections under different electoral systems and democracy has been under continuous threat from changing patterns of the elections. After the country’s liberation in 1971, seven ...

MNA Exclusive Desk: The United States has urged the Myanmar authorities to take further steps to ensure everyone has full and equal access to the opportunities and the benefits of a democratic society. “For decades, the United States has stood with the people of Myanmar in their pursuit of peace, freedom, and justice,” said Rex W Tillerson, secretary of state, in a press statement on Wednesday. Tillerson said the US remains committed to helping advance Myanmar’s democratic transition, and continue to support the civilian government in efforts to end decades of conflict; strengthen respect for human rights, transparency, and rule ...

MNA Editorial Desk: In a truly democratic society, it is important to ensure a government that follows the will of the people rather than forcing them to follow it and democracy as a concept was in most simple words explained by former US president Abraham Lincoln as “government of the people, by the people and for the people”. Hence, democracy is not a government by some of the people and requires participation of all people; though in most cases, that is not possible but attempts should be there for full participation. We tend to put the responsibility of an election ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Politics is the noblest profession in the world though many might argue on that and a political leader devotes his life for the welfare of the people of his constituency as well as for the country. He works to ensure the basic rights — food, clothing, shelter, education, treatment of his people. But to keep this profession a noble one, there is no alternative of having good political leaders. Bangladesh being a democratic country practices people’s participation in choosing their leaders or representatives through elections. Different parties place their candidates at different constituencies and people elect their ...

MNA Editorial Desk: We often hear the word ‘Democracy’ uttered by both the politicians and our countrymen. We also hear the slogan ‘save the democracy’. It can sometimes confuse us as we take it as the only mean to ensure people’s rights in our beloved country. But it is really bewildering that if we really understand the concept of democracy. It gives us freedom, but does not free us from our liability to the society or to the country. Democracy can be explained as a government system where citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives to form a governing body, ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Pakistan’s democracy may be at danger following the last week’s removal of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Last Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed the PM on a failure to announce income in disclosure papers for 2013’s general election that leaves a huge political vacuum in the country. The judicial body based its decision on Article 62 of the Constitution and Section 99 of the Representation of the People Act — little-used legislation that requires truthfulness and honesty from elected officials. While Friday’s decision was hailed as a rare example of accountability in a graft-stricken nation, the fact ...

MNA Editorial Desk: Democracy was restored in Bangladesh in the early 1990s but the country has been blemished by a deep distrust between the two main political parties – the Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). This suspicion stands in the way of strengthening democratic organizations, such as the Electoral Commission (EC). As a result the main opposition does not want to run for elections while the ruling party controls the EC and is demanding the formation of a neutral government to oversee the poll. This issue led to a logjam in 1995 and 2001 and the suspension ...